Had even the moment when that Kumogakure ninja used a Kunai to cut his forehead been part of the plan. If that Kumogakure ninja had not cut his forehead, he would not have wrapped it in bandages, and Hizashi Hyuga would not have been able to use those bandages to perfectly hide the Caged Bird Seal on his own forehead.
The more Hiashi Hyuga and Hizashi Hyuga thought about it, the more fear grew, though for the latter it was mixed with lingering dread and relief. He felt relieved that he had recognized reality early and chosen the right path. This was no longer a scheme but a complete manipulation, treating them like puppets on strings.
Everyone, including Kumogakure, Konoha Leadership, and the Hyuga Clan, was being played in his hands.
"Do not worry, he will only enter a state of false death."
After Hizashi Hyuga tied the Forehead Protector onto Hiashi's head, Yunchuan Hyuga finally answered in an even tone. "His consciousness is still thinking, but his body is no longer under his control. He has already become my puppet."
Hearing this, Hizashi Hyuga, who was lifting the bandages to cover his Caged Bird Seal, froze for a moment. He quickly realized something and felt a chill in his heart. Did that mean that if he lost his value, this man could personally control Hiashi Hyuga to replace him at any time?
"But..." Hizashi Hyuga hesitated. "What about Kumogakure..."
"That is not something you need to worry about," Yunchuan Hyuga interrupted before he could finish. "You only need to play your role well."
With that, he extended two fingers bearing the mark of Root, his Chakra surging as he used Chakra Scalpel to gouge out Hiashi's eyes. There was a dull, wet sound as the two blood-soaked Byakugan were removed and stored against his body.
With this, combined with the eyes taken earlier through a scheme that used Orochimaru to kill a member of the Main Family, Yunchuan Hyuga now possessed three Byakugan. The Caged Bird Seal destroyed brain nerves connected to the eyes, not the Branch Family's Byakugan directly. After activating the Caged Bird Seal, the Byakugan would go blind but would not disappear.
This was why people like Hizashi Hyuga were so confident that Kumogakure would not discover the truth too early. To avoid exposure, Yunchuan Hyuga took stock left behind by Orochimaru and replaced Hiashi's eyes with a pair of blind Branch Family Byakugan. Hizashi Hyuga witnessed the entire process, feeling greater awe toward Yunchuan Hyuga's methods while also showing a trace of pity toward Hiashi.
As the proud head of the Main Family, Hiashi had his Byakugan dug out and would be replaced by a Branch Family member like him, then reduced to a puppet without freedom. Thinking of this, a sickly flush appeared on Hizashi Hyuga's face.
Brother, can you now truly understand the despair and pain of the Branch Family.
In truth, Hiashi Hyuga was indeed feeling it at this moment, the despair, helplessness, regret, and pain of having his fate controlled. Everything that happened today struck his mind so heavily that it nearly broke him. Especially after hearing that he would remain in this state, Hiashi silently begged in his heart to be killed.
He would rather have died at the hands of Kumogakure than become a puppet without choice. But it was no longer up to him. From the moment he chose, as Head of the Main Family, to abandon Hizashi Hyuga, there had been no room for regret.
Now Hizashi Hyuga was only repeating what he had done to himself.
"My lord."
At this moment, Hizashi Hyuga suddenly knelt down, pressing his forehead to the ground in a deep bow as his plain robes spread across the floor. He asked respectfully, "I beg your pardon, but I have not yet asked for your honored name."
Unlike the forced respect he once showed to the Main Family under the Caged Bird Seal, this kneeling Hizashi Hyuga felt genuine awe toward this man.
"My name?" Yunchuan Hyuga lowered his gaze slightly and looked down at him. "I have not used my true name for a long time, but speaking of it, your Hyuga Clan could be considered my kin."
Hearing this, Hizashi Hyuga froze, not expecting this man to have ties to the Hyuga Clan.
"My family name," Yunchuan Hyuga said softly, "is Otsutsuki."
A stirring that seemed to come from deep within his blood made Hizashi Hyuga lower his head even further, though his thoughts raced. Otsutsuki Clan? Was there such a clan in the Ninja World?
Could it be some hidden group that never revealed itself. He had no doubt at all about Yunchuan Hyuga's words and instead thought his own knowledge was lacking, planning to search ancient records after this was over.
A system notification sounded in Yunchuan Hyuga's mind, and he raised his brows slightly. Just borrowing the name of the Otsutsuki Clan alone had earned him a large reward. It seemed this lie still held great value.
The door clicked open.
With a numb expression, Hizashi Hyuga came out carrying Hiashi Hyuga's "corpse." He held a scroll in his hand, and Hiashi's body was covered with a white cloth. Of course, in the eyes of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, it was "Hiashi Hyuga" carrying the corpse of "Hizashi Hyuga."
"Hiashi, did you destroy the Byakugan with the Caged Bird Seal?" the cautious Main Family Elder still asked.
Hizashi Hyuga gently set Hiashi's "corpse" on the ground and lowered his head without answering, which the Main Family Elder took as grief. He bent down, lifted the white cloth, and pried open the eyelids to check the dull Byakugan. Only then did the tight lines on his aged face ease slightly as he nodded to the Main Family Elder behind him.
Seeing this, everyone finally let out a breath.
A clear chime sounded in his mind, followed by the system's cold confirmation. His lies were judged as layered deception, and the intense emotional swings of Hizashi Hyuga, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the others reached the level of absolute belief, granting him three thousand Reality Points. His Reality Points rose to a new total, yet Yunchuan Hyuga remained standing where he was, unmoving, his face heavy with grief.
"Then send the body to the Land of Lightning." Hizashi Hyuga turned toward Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had stayed silent the entire time, and spoke with respectful restraint. "Third Hokage, please arrange for people to escort it."
"Rest assured." Sensing the shift in Hizashi Hyuga's attitude, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood that the Hyuga Clan had been struck where it hurt. On the surface, he let out a deep sigh and said, "Konoha will remember the righteousness of the Hyuga Clan. I will not let Hizashi Hyuga's sacrifice be in vain."
He was about to leave with the body when a voice suddenly reached his ears. "Third Grandfather… Third Hokage."
With reddened eyes, Yunchuan Hyuga stepped forward and took a deep breath. He bowed deeply and said with care, "Please allow me to join the escort taking Hizashi Hyuga to the Land of Lightning."
The firm words echoed through the reception hall, drawing instinctive glances from everyone present. Several Main Family Elders straightened slightly, avoiding the candlelight as half of their aged faces sank into shadow, cold eyes watching the unruly boy.
"Yunchuan Hyuga! You…" Hizashi Hyuga was clearly carried away by emotion and raised his voice, intending to scold him for forgetting his place.
Before he could finish, the first person to refuse was someone no one expected. "No!"